Columbarium-cell.



No. 741,355. PATENTED OCT. 13, 1903. W. J. MATHEWS.

GOLUMBARIUM CELL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29. 1902.

N0 MODEL. 'i/

HIE mmmi minus co. PHOTO LITH UNITED STATES Patented October 13, 1903.

PATENT EEicE.

COLUMBARIUIVl-CELL.

.QPECIFIGATION fOrming part of Letters Patent No. 741,355, dated October 13, 1903. Application filed December 29,1902. Serial No. 166,934. (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVALTER J. MATHEWs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of Oalifornia,have invented new and useful Improvements in Oolumbarium-Cells, of which the following is aspecifieation.

This invention'relates to the construction of cells or niches in a columbarium to receive the einerary urns or receptacles; and the same embraces certain novelform and construction of cell and the combination thereof in tiers and rows, with ventilating-passages, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

The object of the invention is chiefly to produce a niche or cell as a single structure or unit in which the top and bottom and the sides are integral, with provision for superposing, placing, or combining a plurality of units in tiers and rows-that is, vertically and horizontally-4n such manner that spaces or channels for passage and circulation of air are provided between one niche or cell and the others on all sides, and the wallsof each cell are separated from those of the adjacent cells by ventilating-spaces. The construction also aims to permit one or more cells to be re- 'moved from the complete structure for the purpose of forming a cell of increased capacity by throwing two cells or more into one without materially disturbing or affecting the position of the other cells in the structure.

T he nature of these improvements and the manner in which I proceed to produce and carry out the same will be understood from the following detailed description, wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings by letters.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents in front elevation a portion of the wall or side of an apartment or section in a columbarium, showing several rows of niches constructed accord ing to my invention, a portion of the finish or molding on the front of the niches being broken away to show the construction more clearly. This figure is in part a-vertical section taken on the line 3 3 Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken transversely through Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line a: 00, Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of one of the units.

right position another and similar niche placed thereon. This construction without joints is the preferable one. The top a is preferably arched and the sides extend sufficiently above the crown of the arch to support the bottom of the superposed niche clear of the top of the one below. In the sides of the niche are vent-apertures f f,'and similar openings f f are generally provided in the top CL and bottom I).

\Vhen setin position one upon another, the tiers are properly spaced to leave a narrow shaft or channel h between the adjacent sides of the niches in one tier and those in the next tier, and usually these channels are connected at the bottom with a common air trunk or passage 9, carried under a number of tiers and either to the atmosphere outside or to the interior of the building, while the channels are also open at the top to insure effective circulation of air. Communication of the space under the bottom of the niche and the top of the one above with these channels is afforded by slots or recesses in the standing sides that extend above the top a. By this means the top, bottom, and side walls of each individual niche are surrounded and separated from the adjacent ones on all sides by currents of air, and the interior surfaces are also effectively ventilated, thereby prevent ing the deposit of moisture on the interior surfaces and also on the glass fronts by which the niches are covered and scaled up. In set ting up and fixing these units in position the wall of the apartment or section to contain back by the wall and at the front by the glass panel that is secured in place by the molding m or is set into the opening and sealed at the joints.

A niche unit of this character is readily produced from terra-cotta and similar compositions capable of being cast or molded and combining the desirable qualities of lightness and strength or from any substance capable of being handled and shaped in molds.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a columbarium, a plurality of cells arranged in tiers, each cell consisting of a niche unit having upright side members, a top member and abottom member, the niche unit in each tier being separated from the end members of the adjacent units above and below it in the tier by ventilating-spaces, and

the side members of the units in each tier being separated from the corresponding side members of the units in the adjacent tiers by vertical passages for circulation of air, and ventilating apertures in the side and end members of each niche unit communicating with the said ventilating spaces and passages between the niche units and between the tiers.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a niche unit for a columbarium cast or molded in one piece having top,bottom and sides, and ventilating apertures, the sides extending above the crown of the top.

3. A niche unit for a columbarium having a top, a bottom and side Walls integral therewith, the side walls extending above the top and having apertures for ventilation in the walls, the extending side walls being adapted to support a superposed niche unit and preserve a space between the adjacent walls of the niche units in a tier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER J. MATHEWS.

Witnesses HARRY J. LAsK, H. A. KELLER. 

